Introduction and detailed information about Penghu Islands

Overview

The Penghu Islands are located in the Taiwan Strait, about 50 kilometers west of Taiwan; they consist of 90 large and small islands, with a total area of ??141 square kilometers at low tide. Among them, Penghu Island is the largest (including Magong City and Huxi Township), followed by Xiyu Township and Baisha Township. Currently only 19 islands are inhabited. Penghu had an inspection department (i.e. Penghu Village Inspection Department) established in the Yuan Dynasty, but it was abandoned during the Ming Dynasty; it was not until the Dutch fleet attempted to occupy Penghu that the Ming Dynasty sent troops to Penghu to expel the Dutch. But the Dutch still successfully occupied Penghu in July 1622. In 1624, the Ming Dynasty sent troops to attack Penghu, which lasted eight months. In the end, the Ming Dynasty recognized the Dutch occupation rights of Taiwan Island and regained Penghu on the condition that the Dutch fleet withdraw from the Penghu Islands. To the Ming court, although Taiwan was large, it was far less important than Penghu; the Dutch unexpectedly obtained Taiwan. The natural environment and geographical location of the Penghu Islands

The Penghu Islands are located between the main island of Taiwan and Fujian Province, east of the center of the Taiwan Strait, 45 kilometers away from the nearest Aogu Village, Dongshi Township, Chiayi County, in the east, and 45 kilometers west of Aogu Village, Dongshi Township, Chiayi County. It is 140 kilometers away from Weitou, the nearest point of Jinjiang Province in Fujian Province, and the Tropic of Cancer crosses the central part of the archipelago. The entire archipelago consists of 64 islands (16 are stationed by the army). The islands are distributed over a wide range, from Mendou Island at the northern end (23°45.7' north latitude) to Qimei Island at the southern end (23°09.7' north latitude), which is about 60 meters long. It is about 40 kilometers wide and has a total area of ??126.9 square kilometers from Chamou Island in the east (119°42.9' east longitude) to Huayu Island in the west (119°18.1' east longitude). It is the main barrier to guard Taiwan. . Penghu Islands

The Penghu Islands can reach the Matsu Islands, Dachen Island and Zhoushan Islands to the north, and the Dongsha Islands and Nansha Islands to the south, and can lead to the Philippines and Southeast Asian countries. The Penghu Islands are located at the center of the Taiwan Strait and strangle the shipping hub of eastern Asia. They are known as the "Key to the Southeast". When Zheng Chenggong regained Taiwan, he used it as a bridgehead and logged in here first. Topography

The base of the Penghu Islands is an uplifted basalt square mountain, which was formed after many sea and land ups and downs, sea erosion and volcanic eruptions. It is generally 20-30 meters above sea level. [1] Viewed from the sea, the terrain is low and flat, like large and small flat disks floating on the sea; the average altitude is 17 meters, and the highest point is Da Mao Island in Wang'an Township in the southwest, with an altitude of 78.9 meters. The inland sea surrounded by three islands is Penghu Bay, which is about 12 kilometers long from north to south and 8 kilometers wide from east to west. The north entrance is Niugongwan Strait, which has a cross-sea bridge and cannot be navigated; the south entrance is blocked by Fengguili Peninsula and Yuweng Island, with a width of about 3.3 kilometers and a water depth of 10 to 62 meters. There are only a few facilities in the bay, but the anchorage in the north of Strait Rock has a water depth of more than 10 meters and a muddy bottom. It is the most ideal wind-sheltered anchorage in Taiwan in winter. Island composition

Among the 64 islands, Penghu Island has the largest area, with an area of ??64.24 square kilometers, followed by Baisha and Xiyu (Yuweng Island). There are 8 islands with an area of ??more than 1 square kilometer, including Hujing, Jibei, and Wangan. The remaining 53 islands have an area of ??less than 1 square kilometer, and 44 of them are uninhabited. [1] The main islands of Penghu, Yuweng Island and Baisha Island cover an area of ??approximately 96.6 square kilometers, accounting for 76.1% of the total area. The three islands include the 2,150-meter-long cross-sea bridge between Baisha Island and Yuweng Island, the 500-meter-long Yongan Bridge between Zhongdun Island and Baisha Island, and the 1,007-meter-long Zhongzheng Bridge between Magong Island and Zhongdun Island. The bridge connects the island and there are no railways on land. There are 4 main highways with a total length of about 130 kilometers.

Penghu Islands

Penghu Island, also known as Dashanyu, is located at 119°32.0' east longitude and 23°30.5' north latitude, with an area of ??64.2 square kilometers (79.0 at low tide). It is an archipelago. the largest island in the world. Magong City, located in the west of the island, is the political, economic and cultural center of the region. Since 1974, Chenggong Reservoir, Xingren Reservoir and Dongwei Reservoir have been built, basically solving the water problem. The commanding heights on the island are: Gongbei Mountain 52 meters, Taiwu Mountain 46 meters, Shamao Mountain 45 meters, and Kuibi Mountain 34 meters. The coastline is 114.52 kilometers long, with twists and turns, many rocks offshore, and many cliffs along the coast. Among them, Longmen Village (Liangwen Port) to Suoguan Port are located in the southern part of the island. The coastline is about 11 kilometers long. It has fine sand or a mixed beach of sand and gravel. The low-tide beach is 150 to 300 meters wide; the south side of Shanshui (Zhuwei) is moist. It is located at the southernmost tip of the island, with a coastline of about 1.2 kilometers long and a sandy beach. The width of the beach is less than 100 meters at low tide. The Taiwanese army often holds real-force landing exercises at these two places.

Yuweng Island, also known as Xiyu, is located in the northwest of Penghu Island, with 119°27.6' east longitude and 23°33.6' north latitude. It is the second largest island in the archipelago and has sufficient water resources. The island is long and narrow, 9 kilometers long from north to south, and about 1 kilometers at its narrowest point from east to west, with an area of ??18.2 square kilometers. There are several small highlands with an altitude of more than 50 meters at the southern end. The highest point is the 58 highland east of Waijun Village in the southwest. The coastline is 40.2 kilometers long, with twists and turns and many coral reefs along the coast.

Baisha Island, also known as Beishan Island, is located north of Penghu Island, with 119°32.7' east longitude and 23°37.2' north latitude. It is the third largest island in the archipelago, with an area of ??approximately 14.1 square meters (25.6 at low tide). kilometers, with the highest point being 40-meter-high Lookout Mountain (also known as Yandun Mountain).

The coastline is 31.9 kilometers long, with twists and turns. The coast is mostly surrounded by coral reefs and has strong winds and strong currents. Climate Characteristics

The Penghu Islands have a subtropical oceanic climate, which is mild all year round. It is the only area in Taiwan Province with the least rainfall and a dry climate. Rainfall is mostly concentrated from May to September (with the most from June to July), especially from October to November. There are occasional salty rains in winter and summer, and the average annual foggy days are 2 to 3 days. February is the coldest month with an average temperature of 16℃; July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 28℃; the annual average temperature is about 23℃. It is windy with high wind speed. The number of windy days in the year can reach 138. The wind direction is stable and the annual average wind speed reaches 6.1 meters/second. From November to April of the following year, there are mostly northeasterly winds, with the strongest winds from November to January; from June to August, there are more southerly or southwesterly winds; from June to September, there are more typhoons. Ocean currents and tides

Ocean currents are roughly the same as those along the western coast of Taiwan. Except for the period when the northeast monsoon is strong and flows from the northeast to the southwest at a weak flow rate, the rest of the year flows from the southwest to the northeast with a flow rate of 0.3 to 3..5 knot; the flow speed of Penghu waterways is relatively large; the maximum wave height can reach 6 to 7 meters. Penghu Islands

The northern half of the tide is a regular semidiurnal tide, and the southern half is an irregular semidiurnal tide. The southern half of the tide advances earlier than the northern half, and the tidal range in the northern half is greater than the southern half. The average *** interval is 11 hours and 57 minutes, the average spring tidal range is 2.25 meters, the average tidal range is 1.33 meters, and the average tidal range is 1..79 meters. Due to the numerous islands and waterways, the direction of the tidal current is changeable. Basically, it flows along the waterway. The rising (falling) tide flows to the north (south) or northwest (southeast), and turns around at the high and low tides of Magong Harbor. The flow speed is near Taiwan. The maximum is usually about 3 knots, and the maximum can be more than 5 knots. The strongest moment of ebb and flow is 3 hours after high and low tide in Magong Port. At the eastern end of Hujing Island, the high (low) current flows to the northwest (southeast), with a flow speed of about 4 (4..8) knots; in the south of Qiziwei, the high (low) current flows to the west (southeast), with a flow speed of 4 to 5.8 (3.8). ~5) knots; at the south entrance of Penghu Bay, the high (low) current flows to the northeast (southeast or southwest), with a flow speed of 1.3 (1.5) knots; near Magong Port, the high (low) current flows to the east (northwest), and the flow speed is less than 0.5 knots; Near the north waterway entrance of Niugong Bay, the current is northwest (southeast) from about 3.5 hours after high (low) tide to 3.5 hours after low (high) tide. The flow speed is 4.5 knots, about 3.5 hours after high and low tide. is the diversion time; the Penghu waterway is greatly affected by the north-facing bay. It is 2.5 nautical miles east of Cha Island and flows to the north (south) during high (low) tide, with a maximum flow speed of 5 (1.8) knots; 8 miles east of Cha Island At 10 nautical miles east of Jibei Island, seawater often flows north, with a maximum flow speed of about 5 knots at high tide, and very slow at ebb tide, only 0.5 knots; 10 nautical miles east of Jibei Island, seawater often flows north, with a maximum flow speed of 5 to 6 knots at high tide in summer. , the flow speed is about 0.5 knots at ebb tide; Jiangjun Water Channel generally flows to the northwest (southeast) during high (ebb) tide, with a flow speed of 2 to 4 (2.5 to 3) knots. It basically changes flow at high and low tides, and the east side of the high tide channel is larger The west side is large; between the Badou Islands and nearby islands to the east, west and south, the flow generally flows north (south) during high (low) tide, with a maximum flow speed of about 3.5 (2.5~3.5) knots. Economic situation

Penghu is far away from the main island of Taiwan. It is geographically and economically different from the cities and counties in Taiwan. It is an independent economic zone and the smallest and least populated economic zone in the province. The county's economy has always been dominated by fishing. Penghu County has a vast sea area, numerous harbors, and dozens of large and small fishing ports and fishing ports. Among them, Magong Port is one of the first-class fishing ports in the province. Agriculture

The Penghu Islands are flat, with no rivers or mountains, and the soil is shallow and red-brown, with insufficient fertility and lack of water. Coupled with the strong sea breeze, it is not conducive to the growth of crops. Only sweet potatoes, peanuts, etc. can be grown. . In the mid-1980s, watermelon, cantaloupe and luffa were successfully grown here on a trial basis, known as Penghu's "Three Melons". Among them, cantaloupe was also sold to the main island of Taiwan. However, most of the food, vegetables, fruits, etc. needed by the county rely on the supply of Taiwan. Fisheries and aquatic products

Penghu waters are rich in marine biological resources, with nearly 300 species of migratory and benthic fish, as well as lobsters, shellfish, corals, algae, etc. The county has more than 2,800 powered fishing boats and nearly 10,000 fishermen, accounting for more than half of the county's population. The annual fish catch is about 50,000 tons, of which more than 80% are sold to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and other places. It is the largest fishery in the county. economic pillar. Secondly, there is shallow sea culture, mainly oysters, monodon shrimp and milkfish. Penghu Islands

Seafood Penghu is famous for its abundance of pomfret and bonito, as well as mackerel, shark, squid and lobster. Fish caught in the offshore are mostly transported to Kaohsiung and Tainan for sale; while fish caught along the coast, in addition to being sold locally, are processed and salted into dried fish and sold throughout Taiwan Province.

Penghu is rich in Gelidium and seaweed. Gelidium has a high yield and is the raw material for making frozen powder (commonly known as "foreign cabbage" in Taiwan). It starts to be collected in February and March every year, and is busiest from April to June. Local residents also use Gelidium as a food substitute when food is scarce. Seaweed is a kind of seaweed with special effects. It is the raw material for making "Partridge Vegetable" and has been used as a good medicine to expel roundworms in children since ancient times. It is widely distributed in Magong Port and nearby waters in Penghu.

The reason why Penghu is rich in seafood resources is because of its winding coastline. Its coastline length per unit land area is approximately 120 times that of Taiwan's main island.

There are many natural harbors and natural fish reefs along the coast, and the water depth in the offshore waters is mostly within 50-100 meters. The seabed has a gentle slope and the sea temperature is high, which is suitable for the breeding and habitat of benthic fish. In addition, the current conditions are good, and it is the Kuroshio (tributary). ) The intersection of the warm current, the South China Sea monsoon warm current, and the cold current along the coast of China is an ideal place for the reproduction of cold-water and warm-water plankton. It can meet the food needs of various fish with different water temperature habits, so it can attract fish to return. It is A good natural offshore fishing ground.

Penghu is also rich in corals. Taiwan Province is the main coral producing area in my country and even the world, and Penghu produces the most and best corals in Taiwan, including white, red, pink and other colors.

Coral is made of the skeleton of a coelenterate coral polyp. Coral polyps are tube-shaped individuals with a hole in the center and tentacles surrounding them. They cling to the reef and secrete calcium. Coral polyps continue to reproduce. The coral polyps accumulated in the inner layer gradually die because they cannot obtain algae to sustain life, and become the skeleton of the coral tree. The living coral polyps continue to regenerate, and over time, a beautiful coral tree is formed. All kinds of corals decorate the seabed into a colorful maze.

The corals in Penghu have excellent texture, are smooth and hard, and are colorful. They are very popular decorations, among which the peach-colored coral is the most valuable. This kind of coral is pink in color, soft and translucent, with uniform branches. Under natural light, the color is elegant and charming. The whole coral is intact and beautiful in appearance. People mostly keep it in its original state for display purposes, which is full of natural beauty.

There are many coral processing factories on Penghu Island. There were more than 50 at the peak, and there are still more than 30 now. These factories carve the coral into flowers, birds, grass, insects, animals, characters and other handicrafts according to its shape, size and color. Some of them are also made into rings, earrings, corsages, necklaces, beads, cufflinks and tie clips.

Since the opening of a coral farm near Penghu Island in 1923, the coral collecting industry in Penghu has developed rapidly. Later, new coral fields were discovered in the Taiwan Shoal area southwest of the Penghu Islands. So far, the corals produced in Penghu are exported to all over the world and are the most economically valuable export products among Taiwan's specialty products. Before 1979, Taiwan Province's coral production accounted for about 80% of the world's coral production, and it once won the praise of the "Coral Kingdom". However, after a long period of over-exploitation, production has dropped sharply since the late 1980s. Industry

Almost all of the county's industries are related to fishery, including fish processing plants, freezing plants, fishing boat repair plants, fishing gear production plants, etc., accounting for more than half of the county's factories; followed by There are about 200 large and small factories in the county that process handicrafts using coral, aragonite, shells and other raw materials, and there are more than 500 service companies and enterprises such as commercial wholesale, retail, catering and entertainment. Social Environment Administrative Structure Penghu Islands

The development history of Penghu can be traced back to before the Qin and Han Dynasties. Taiwanese archaeologists have unearthed ancient relics such as hard sandstone axes on Penghu Island. It has been verified that they were left behind by immigrants who crossed the sea before the Qin and Han Dynasties. They belong to the culture of the mainland of the motherland. During this period, mainland culture still existed on the island of Taiwan. Not found. It shows that the spread of mainland culture of the motherland first reached Penghu and then from Penghu to Taiwan. Penghu plays an indelible and important role in the spread of culture. later. With the development of navigation technology, the Penghu Islands have gradually become a springboard for cross-strait traffic across the Taiwan Strait. It has a good harbor and is a gathering point for various ship activities in the Taiwan Strait. Penghu has been officially included in the territory of China since the Song Dynasty and is under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou Prefecture in Fujian Province. Its development time was more than 380 years earlier than the main island of Taiwan. During the Yuan Dynasty, with the increasing number of immigrants, an inspection department was set up. In the Ming Dynasty, it fell to the Dutch twice. After Zheng Chenggong regained Taiwan in 1661, he set up a pacification department in Penghu; in the Qing Dynasty, he set up an inspection department and a general prosecutor; during the Japanese occupation, he set up the Penghu Island Office, which was renamed the Penghu Office in 1897; after Taiwan was recovered, the Penghu Office was established. Penghu County was established in the original jurisdiction, and the county seat was located in Magong Town. In 1981, Magong Town was transformed into a county-administered city. Penghu County is affiliated to Taiwan Province and has jurisdiction over: Magong City, Huxi Township, Baisha Township, Xiyu Township, Wangan Township, Qimei Township, 34 miles, 63 villages, and 1,368 neighbors.

The county covers an area of ??about 127 square kilometers. The residents are Han nationality, and the largest number of people living in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. The county seat is located in Magong City.

Magong City is located in the west of Penghu Island and is the administrative, economic and cultural center of Penghu County. The city covers an area of ??about 34 square kilometers and had a population of about 56,000 in 2001. The residents are Han nationality and the people who have lived in Quanzhou, Fujian for a long time. Magong City was originally called "Ma Palace". It got its name because when the Ming Dynasty army expelled the Japanese pirates, the garrison built the "Mazu Palace" here. During the Japanese occupation, it was renamed Magong in 1920. After the liberation of Taiwan, Magong City was established in 1946 and upgraded to a county-level city in 1982 (some say 1981). Garrison

Since Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan, the Penghu Islands have been regarded as the first defensive barrier of Taiwan's main island. Since 1970, they have been designated as the first theater and classified as an independent theater; they are also known as cross-sea bridges and " "Zhongzheng Bridge" is the boundary and is divided into two major areas: north and south. The Defense Headquarters, the Second Naval Military Region Headquarters, the Air Force Base Headquarters, the Artillery Headquarters, and the First Logistics Headquarters were established in Magong, and a wartime command post was established in Gongbei Mountain.

The garrisoned forces are: ground forces include the 168th Infantry Division and the 703rd Tank Group on mobile standby; naval forces include Task Detachment 62.3, the Second Destroyer Fleet, 5th Squadron of the Haijiao Group, 3rd Squadron of the Coast Guard Group, and small boats. Squadron 3, the Second Patrol Boat Fleet, two radar stations (with 4 radars) and the "Hsiung Feng II" shore-to-ship missile site; the Air Force has 12 fighter jets stationed at Magong Airport all year round, and has a control reporting center (also has 4 radars). There are first-line positions and second-line positions on the main island of Penghu, while only peripheral positions and key fortifications are built on other islands under its jurisdiction. Taiwan's army, navy and air force also have units stationed in Magong City, and Magong Port is one of Taiwan's most important naval bases. Traffic conditions Penghu Islands

There are 4 airports in Penghu Islands. Magong (Taiwu) Airport is located about 6 kilometers east of Magong City (119°37.8' east longitude, 23°34.2' north latitude). There is a long The main runway is 3050 meters long and 46 meters wide. It can take off and land Boeing 737 passenger aircraft and jet fighters, and can accommodate up to 100 fighter jets. There is an airport on the west side of Shanshui (119°34.6' east longitude, 23°31.1' north latitude), which can The C-47 transport aircraft took off and landed, but it was closed in 1964; Bajou Island and Qimei Island each have a small airport, which can only take off and land small passenger aircraft. Magong Airport has daily flights to and from Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and other places; Chimei Airport has flights to and from Magong and Kaohsiung.

The harbor conditions of the Penghu Islands are very favorable. There are more than 60 large and small ports and boat harbors, the largest of which is Magong Port located in the southwest of the main island of Penghu. The port is one of Taiwan's major naval bases. It is formed by the golden *** and Fengguiwei, with a total area of ??15 square kilometers. The port area is divided into north and south parts. The port opens to the northwest, is about 1.2 kilometers wide, and has Anti-submarine net. The southern Cetian Island is a military port, about 5 kilometers long from east to west, about 2 kilometers wide from north to south, with a water depth of 10.5 to 14.6 meters, and the bottom material is mainly sand. It has 18 piers and 44 pontoons, which can be berthed at the same time. There are 18 to 24 ships in the 2,000 to 10,000 ton class. Among them, Piers 7 to 10 on the south side of Cetian Island are 300 meters long, with a water depth of 7 meters, and can dock three destroyers at a time; the Navy's Second Shipyard on Cetian Island has a 129-meter-long, The 25-meter-wide 3,000-ton dock can repair ships up to frigates. Magong City in the north is a fishing and trading port. It is about 2 kilometers long from east to west and 1.2 kilometers wide from north to south. The water depth is 3 to 6 meters. Most of the bottom is shells and sand. Outside the port, to the south of Da and Xiaochi Bay on Yuweng Island, is the main anchorage and ship alert area for the Navy; between Fengguiwei and Sijiao Island was once the anchorage for U.S. Navy submarines. Maritime transportation between Penghu and Taiwan includes regular routes (liners) between Magong Port and Kaohsiung and Taichung, Suoguan Port and Chiayi Butai Port, and Liangwen Port and Yunlin Taixi Port. Transportation between Penghu’s outlying islands includes Magong Port. There are regular boats to Badou Island and Qimei Island. Tourism Development

Due to its early development, Penghu County has many historical sites and special geographical landscape, which makes Penghu County extremely rich in sightseeing and tourism resources. When the county's agriculture, industry and commerce are difficult to develop significantly, After the early 1980s, the county began to focus on the development of tourism. "Penghu Fishing Fire" has been one of Taiwan's "Eight Scenic Spots" since the Qing Dynasty. Penghu Tianhou Temple, Xiyu Fort, and Xiyu Donggu are all first-class historical sites in Taiwan Province. Others include Guanyin Pavilion, Shuncheng Gate, Confucius Temple and Shi Gong Temple. Tomb of Seven Beauties, etc., as well as the Penghu Cross-sea Bridge, bathing beach, Chenggong Reservoir, and Xiyu Lighthouse. Guoye Sunrise, Tongliang Ancient Banyan, etc. In recent years, the number of tourists visiting Penghu each year has exceeded 1 million. In 1995, Penghu was officially classified as a "Specified Scenic Area" and a Penghu Tourism Service Center was set up. Tourism and tourism has become the most important industry in Penghu County.

The main scenic spots include:

Thean Hou Temple

Thean Hou Temple, also known as Mazu Palace, is the first of a series of historic sites in Magong City. It has a long history and was built in the Ming Dynasty. In the 20th year of Wanli (1592), it is the oldest temple in Taiwan Province. Thean Hou Temple is a four-entry building, dedicated to the statue of Mazu. The palace is majestic, with the horseback guarding dragons on the left and right, the main entrance, and the multiple roofs, which are extremely harmonious. The carvings on the beams and columns under the eaves in front of the temple, the carvings on stone drums, the stone window lattice, the reliefs on the walls, and the carvings on the doors and windows inside the temple all present a simple yet delicate style. Thean Hou Temple has been renovated four times over the past 400 years. Today, the walls are in disarray and some of the stone monuments are dilapidated and in urgent need of maintenance. Penghu Islands

Surrounding the Penghu fields, there are many windbreaks made of coral reefs. The surface of the coral reef is uneven, slightly soluble in water, and then cemented together. Walls built with it will not collapse after years of wind and rain, but will be cemented together more closely and are very strong. The old houses along the Penghu seaside are mostly made of coral reefs. This kind of wall is a major feature of the architectural landscape in Penghu. Some people call it the "honeycomb wall".

Fengkui Cave

There is a Fengkui Cave on the outermost side of the northern part of Fengkueiwei Peninsula, with a diameter of about 4 meters. Whenever a huge wave pours into the cave, you will hear a loud sound. From the depths of the huge cave came the thunderous reverberation of the sea waves, which people called "Fenggui Listening to the Waves". The formation of Fenggui Cave is related to its geographical location. This is where the warm currents from the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea pass.

Every year at the turn of summer and autumn, when violent typhoons hit Penghu, the outside of Fengkueiwei Peninsula is at the mouth of the wind, and sea erosion is particularly strong. Coastal columnar joints composed of basalt develop, which increases the power of wave erosion along the joints, and finally hollows out the rock. wall, forming the Fenggui Cave.

Tongliang Banyan Tree

There is the famous "Tongliang Banyan Tree" on Baisha Island. It is more than 300 years old. The original trunk has withered and the branches have sunk into the soil. More than 20 branches grow around it, with intertwined roots and luxuriant branches and leaves, covering an area of ??more than 660 square meters. It is like a giant open umbrella, forming a natural pavilion. There are stone tables and chairs under the "pavilion". According to legend, in the twelfth year of Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1673), a Fujian merchant ship passed through Penghu. Unfortunately, it sank in a strong wind in Tongliang Village, Baisha Township. Only a bowl with two small banyan trees inside was left, which floated with the tide to the seaside of Tongliang Village. , picked up by locals, transplanted in front of the Preservation Palace, irrigated and cultivated, unexpectedly it has survived to this day on Penghu Island with sparse vegetation, becoming one of the few large banyan trees not only in Penghu, but also in Taiwan.

Penghu Cross-Sea Bridge

From Baisha Island to Yuweng Island, you have to pass a 2160-meter-long bridge, which is like a rainbow flying across the sky. This is the famous Penghu Cross-Sea Bridge. The bridge deck is 4.6 meters wide, with return lanes every 300 meters and a total of 76 piers. It is said to be the longest cross-sea cement steel pipe bridge in the Far East.

Xiyu sunset

On Yuweng Island, whenever the sun sets, Xiyu, the gorgeous clouds and the blue sea complement each other, and the scenery is intoxicating. "Xiyu Xiyu" is a famous scenery in Penghu, located in the crescent-shaped bay from Guanyin Pavilion in Magong City to Penghu Fisheries School. In the evenings of summer and autumn every year, the beach here is always crowded with tourists.

Xiyu Lighthouse

The "Xiyu Lighthouse", known to navigators, stands high on the southwest corner of Yuweng Island. In the past, ships sailing between Taiwan and Xiamen often used Yuweng Island as their destination. In 1769, an ancient navigation beacon was built near Yiziwei. In 1828, it was converted into a lighthouse. A fire was lit on the top of the tower at night. It was named Xiyu Lighthouse. It was the first lighthouse in Taiwan Province. In the first year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1875), it was changed to new equipment. A 500-candlepower fourth-class immovable white lamp was installed on the tower. The light could project 15 nautical miles, which not only provided convenience for ships sailing in the Taiwan Strait, but also added to the quaint Yuweng Island. Outstanding. Legend story

In ancient times, there lived a couple on the peninsula in the southeast of the motherland. They gave birth to a strong and handsome boy. But when this little guy was born, a fluffy beard grew on his chin, so he was named Peng Hu, and people called him Peng Hu. At the same time, the neighbor next door gave birth to a handsome girl with a white sand-shaped mole between her eyebrows, named Baisha. The two children have played together since childhood and are very close. When we grew up, we went boating and fishing together. As they grew older, they fell in love and became married within two years. Later, they gave birth to six fat boys in succession. When the six fat children grew up, they went fishing with them in the sea, and the whole family lived a harmonious life. Penghu Islands

But one day, just as the family was preparing to go fishing, the sky suddenly changed, dark clouds blocked the sun, strong winds and rolling waves. Then, there was a loud boom and thunder in the sky, which suddenly split the peninsula into two halves. One half remained on the mainland, and the other half turned into a huge island, slowly floating toward the sea. The whole family stood on the edge of this huge island, overwhelmed with anxiety. At this moment, Ma Zupo fell from the sky and said to them: "This peninsula was originally connected to a big stone pillar under the mainland. Due to the age, there are cracks in the middle of the big stone pillar, and now it is covered by a giant dragon underground. Breaking it with its horn, a big hole opened in the middle of the peninsula, and the seawater poured in, turning the peninsula into an island. Now, the giant dragon is taking the opportunity to carry the island and drift toward the East Sea. However, under the giant island. That half of the big stone pillar is still dragging on the seabed not far from the mainland. We only need to use sixty-four large nails to nail it firmly to the seabed so that the island will not drift deeper into the sea." Peng Hu and Baisha said anxiously. Said: "Where can I find such a big nail?" Mazu Po took out 64 bayberry fruits from her pocket, handed them to them and said, "It's not difficult, as long as 64 people each swallow one bayberry fruit." , can be turned into 64 big iron nails."

After listening to Ma Zupo's words, Peng Hu and Bai Sha each picked up a bayberry fruit and swallowed it without hesitation. Their six sons also swallowed a bayberry fruit each. There were not enough people, so a local old fisherman and 55 young men also came over and swallowed the bayberry fruits. Sure enough, 64 of them turned into 64 big nails, nailing half of the big stone pillar firmly to the bottom of the sea. The giant island no longer drifts eastward.

Soon after, 64 islands of different sizes were drilled out of the sea. People said that this was the transformation of Peng Hu, Bai Sha and the old man. In order to commemorate their heroic sacrifice of nailing the island, people named these islands after them: the largest island was called Penghu Island; the second largest island was called Yuweng Island; the third largest island was called Baisha Island... Later, people felt that The name Penghu Island has no island characteristics, so I added three dots of water next to the word Penghu and changed it to "Penghu" island. These 64 islands are also known as the "Penghu Islands".

History and culture Historical development

Penghu was formerly known as "Pinghu". It was named because the sea outside the harbor was surging and the water inside the harbor was as calm as a lake. In the Song Dynasty, it was officially included in the territory; in the Yuan Dynasty, with the increasing number of immigrants, the Inspection Department was set up; in the Ming Dynasty, it fell into the hands of the Dutch twice. After Zheng Chenggong occupied Taiwan in 1661, a pacification department was set up in Penghu; in the Qing Dynasty, it was officially included in the territory. In the dynasties, the Inspection Department and General Judge were successively established; during the Japanese rule, the Penghu Island Office was established, which was renamed the Penghu Office in 1897; after the war, Penghu County was established in the area under its original jurisdiction. In the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties, officials were set up to guard the area, and it was known as the "foreign government" of Jinjiang, Fujian Province. In the late Ming Dynasty, it became a transit point for mainland ships traveling to and from ports in the south of Taiwan and a transit point for immigrants to Taiwan. In the early 17th century, Penghu Island was repeatedly invaded by the Dutch and expelled by the Ming army. In 1661, Zheng Chenggong crossed the sea from Kinmen. After crossing the sea, he marched into Taiwan and expelled the Dutch. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the Sino-French war broke out, and the French army once occupied the country. During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, the Japanese army captured Penghu on the eve of the Treaty of Shimonoseki (February 1895), and then the islands and the entire province of Taiwan were occupied by Japan. After Taiwan was liberated in 1945, all Penghu islands were assigned to Penghu County.

Penghu was developed very early, with a history of 700 years, 400 years earlier than the development of the main island of Taiwan. It is said that as early as the 6th year of Emperor Yang's Daye of the Sui Dynasty (610 AD), Huben had been dispatched to Zhonglang City to attack Penghu. However, it was not until the 18th year of Emperor Shun's reign in the Yuan Dynasty (1281) that an inspection department was set up in Penghu, under the jurisdiction of Penghu. Quanzhou Tongan, this is the beginning of the administrative establishment of Penghu. According to historical records, the development of Penghu is closely related to Jinjiang County and Tong'an County, Quanzhou Prefecture in southern Fujian. Today’s residents of Penghu are all descendants of immigrants from this area, so the buildings and markets have completely inherited the Southern Fujian style. Religious Religion

In the early days, most of the residents of Penghu came to Penghu by boat from Fujian, Kinmen, etc. At that time, the residents had to rely on the blessings of gods and Buddhas to comfort their souls due to problems such as livelihood, monsoon, and war. Religions in Penghu are roughly the same as those in Taiwan, and can be divided into Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Catholicism. Hu County Temples: Most of the temples in Penghu area are ancient temples with history, and Magong City is the most densely populated. In the early days, due to the war, they relied on the gods in the temple for spiritual comfort. After many years, it has formed the center of social life in Penghu, and the relationship is inseparable. In addition to religious functions, Penghu temples also set up townships, which are agencies dedicated to solving local problems and solving problems for the people in the village. For example, related issues such as seaweed harvesting and fishing disputes are resolved through the above-mentioned organizations. "There are many temples" is one of the common people's impressions of Penghu. The people of Penghu spend huge sums of money to build temples of large scale. Penghu County *** provided the number of registered temples in the county in 2004, including 45 in Magong City, 28 in Huxi Township, 16 in Baisha Township, 11 in Xiyu Township, 15 in Wangan Township, and 2 in Qimei Township, for a total of 177 seat.